Kumi Yokoyama
Was also active in the Bundesliga: Japanese football pro outet as transgender man
27-Year-old professional soccer player Kumi Yokoyama outed himself as a transgender man on YouTube
© Zabulon Laurent / ABACA / Picture Alliance
Japanese soccer pro Kumi Yokoyama has outed himself as a transgender man in a Youtube video and is fighting against discrimination against the LGBTQIA + community in football.
Kumi Yokoyama is one of the few active professional footballers to have come out as a transgender man. The 27-year-old player of the US first division team Washington Spirit sets a sign with the step to the public in the fight against discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+community in world football.
Prior to the current commitment with the Washington Spirits, the right-winger was also active in the Women’s Bundesliga and played in the 2017/2018 season for 1. FFC Frankfurt. With Japan, Yokoyama participated in the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.
Kumi Yokoyama: Social Media Outing
In a Youtube video on the channel of ex-teammate Yuki Nagasato, Yokoyama confirmed that he is trans and wants to be addressed with gender-neutral pronouns. “Recently, the term LGBTQ has become known in Japan, and you can see it in the media these days. But things will not develop if people in my position do not speak their minds,” the professional footballer said.
At the age of 20, Yokoyama had her breasts surgically removed and had several relationships with women, but always kept this secret. After his career, the midfielder plans to have further gender-matching operations carried out.
Less discrimination in America and Germany
In childhood and adolescence, according to Yokoyama, it was difficult to adapt to the gender roles of society. Also at the stations in Germany and the USA, the Japanese hid his gender. But according to their own statement, it was especially fellow players who gave the professional footballer the courage to come out. In particular, the Canadian trans midfielder Quinn from the OL Reign was considered a great inspiration. Like Quinn, Yokoyama now wants to stand up for the rights of transgender athletes.
Because Yokoama already sees the German and American population much further in comparison to his homeland: “In Japan you are always asked: Do you have a friend? But here it is normal to ask: do you prefer men or women?”Life in America would have made it easier to open up and show gender and sexuality. In Japan, too, more and more young people would advocate for LGBTQIA+rights, but due to fairness debates, exclusion is particularly common in sports.
Meanwhile, Yokoyama’s current employer has also commented on the outing. On Twitter, the club strengthened the player’s back: “We support you and are so proud of you, Kumi! Thank you for showing the world that it’s okay to give yourself as you are!”
Source: “The Japan Times”, Kicker
